What’s the oldest thing you own?

[tvp2003]

I think there is something to be said for quality made items that stand the test of time. Like the speakers/turntable from the 70s, old watches, good furniture, etc.

Then you get the random stuff like the crappy toaster; I have a cheapo kettle that I got for $10 at Walmart in 2003 and still use it...

Old houses are definitely cool; I learned awhile back that many many years ago you used to be able to order houses (to build yourself) out of an Eaton’s catalogue. You would pick the model and they would ship you the lumber via train!

[InglewoodFan]

My step-mom's wedding gift to me was my grandfather's wall clock that she had restored. The restorer thinks it is from the 1890s.

I also have a page from the original Diderot encyclopedia dating to the mid 1700s. An art dealer just gave it to me, I had no idea how old it was until I started looking into it a few years later.

[Caged Great]

I have a small collection of Italian cameo's from the 1700's. Nothing particularly rare or unique, just interesting.

[undercoverbrother]

My great Grandfathers WW1 records

A WW2 Calgary Highlanders cap badge I wore when in

A fountain pen that was my Granddad’s 80 yrs old

A butter knife that is 100+ yrs old, has a bone handle

A wife’s Family hutch, 100+ yrs

My wife has a jewelry box I gave her as a wedding present, it is 150+yrs old

[phaneuf_train]

My alarm clock

[Puppet Guy]

Bible that my great-grandfather brought with him when he emigrated from Wales in 1881. I'm not a Christian and I can't read Welsh, but whatever - it's cool.

[Wormius]

I was looking through some of my grandfathers old things and found some old razors. A 50s Gillette Rocket one piece and a 60s Gillette slim razor. They were built so well, I could probably use them. I have a newer Merkur, but these old Gillettes are stunning.

[Nufy]

My son has the WW1 death certificate from his great great grandfather. Its framed and hanging in his room.

[You Need a Thneed]

Let’s see…

My piano is from the mid 50s, made in England, I think. I have no idea how it got over here, but I grew up playing piano on it. Piano tuners usually sign the date the piano was tuned somewhere inside. The oldest date is mid 50s, so it probably a few years earlier than that.

Our dining room table is also something that I grew up with, it belonged to my parents, and I think was in the family earlier than that. There’s one that’s nearly identical in one of the houses at Fort Edmonton Park (equivalent to Heritage Park). Ours has been upgraded with modern geared slides. I’m guessing 40s or earlier, I don’t even really know.

I have a homemade wood lathe made by my dad’s grandfather, but belonged to my mom’s dad for many years. Probably 40s? Again no idea of actually how old.

I have some old tools that my grandfather owned, a hand brace and bits, a plane.

I have quite a few things from my childhood, blankets, a knife my dad gave me, coins, etc.

I have some of my moms school report cards., so 60s?

I have some Richard Scarry books from 1971. Childcraft encyclopaedia sets from the 80s.

I believe the oldest coin I have in my coin collection is from 1911.

I’m sure some of the lego blocks I have in the bin are from the 80s.

[Geraldsh]

I bought my table saw from Sears in 1972, still use it almost daily.

[Rhettzky]

Copy of Amazing Spider-man #50 (printed in 1967) my wife got it for me about 10 years ago.

[81MC]

I have some of my grandfathers bayonets from WW2, and some records for that time.

[dino7c]

these old balls

[redforever]

I have a Hoosier cabinet that was part of my maternal Grandma's first kitchen dining set. She was married in 1916 so I suspect she bought it about that time.

It looks almost the same as in the link below...just a darker stain.

https://www.kennedyhardware.com/hoos...net_plans.html


I also have a Nordheimer player piano purchased by my paternal grandfather in 1917. It was built in Chicago. I have about 75 of the old rolls for the player piano as well...even including the Moonlight Sonata by Beethovan.

[PaperBagger'14]

My wife has a dresser from I'm assuming her great grandparents which had a stamp on the inside of a drawer from 1911. It was very beaten and weathered and she let me restore it.

[Snuffleupagus]

My uncles 303 Lee-Enfield rifle he used in Italy during World War 2, he was shot in Ortona and survived but claimed he never fired it during combat. It's just a wall hanger as he had it plugged because he hated guns.

[Minnie]

A book I got that belonged to my grandfather. It doesn't have a publishing date listed. From a tiny bit of research, it was likely published between 1888-1891. I have quite a few old books that I got from him, I should check publishing dates on them, it's been ages since I looked at the pub dates. I recently looked at this 1, because my daughter pulled it out and asked where I got it from.

[CaptainYooh]

I too am fascinated by old things that are well-made, well-designed, functional and still looking good. A true test of time. I have an almost complete set of 60-yr old Hasselblad Carl Zeiss manual focus lenses, which still outresolve modern 50MP sensors. Have a few 40-yr old reel-to-reel tape decks and music tape reels from the 60’s and 70’s that still outperform DSD-players in output signal quality. But the oldest item in our house must be the Uxbridge piano made in 1897. Still beautiful.

[bc-chris]

i've got a couple of pockets watches that were handed down from both of my grand fathers - i have no clue how old there are. i also have an old lantern from when my one grand father used to work for cn rail (again - no clue how old it is).


of stuff that is "mine" (not handed down) it would probably be this lego set from 1976:

387_main by bc-chris, on Flickr


for something i personally bought myself - there are other lego sets (likely mid 80s becuz what's a guy supposed to spend his paper route fortune on?!?! ha! ha!). but for something i still currently use that i bought a long time ago - that would be my '89 chevy...
IMG_2649 by bc-chris, on Flickr

[GrrlGoalie33]

THe oldest thing I have that has always been mine is a giant pink stuffed mouse, I think I was three when it was given to me. Other than that, it's a few things my parents gave me from their time in a youth group that I then joined when I was old enough.